What do you think?
Rate this book
Fairytale Collection #1
The Eye of the Beholder
I am a prisoner.
Born to power, the world was my playground. My every wish was a kingdom’s command, my displeasure every man’s worst fear. But then, at the whim of a merciless enchantress, all was stolen from me. My once lavish castle became my dungeon. My once-handsome form became that of a beast. There is no hope of release from the prison of my own body, for the only way to break this curse is to earn the love of another. I, who have never felt a drop of compassion, must hope to inspire devotion. I, who am hideous beyond compare, must hope to inspire passion. After hundreds of years, I have come to accept the truth: I will never know love. There is no escape for me.
I am a prisoner.
Born to two loving parents and a happy home, I was grateful for my good fortune. Though I was plain and prone to living in my head, forced to live in the shadow of my beautiful sisters, I had everything my heart desired. Then tragedy struck, and I lost my mother and my home. Papa was all I had left in the world, and I was utterly devoted to him. When his thoughtful gesture earned him the wrath of a horrible monster, I sacrificed myself for the sake of the one person I love. Now I am a prisoner in a decaying castle with only a terrifying beast for companionship. But I am determined not to give in to the beast’s wrath, to prove to him that he can never truly ensnare me.
Born to power, the world was my playground. My every wish was a kingdom’s command, my displeasure every man’s worst fear. But then, at the whim of a merciless enchantress, all was stolen from me. My once lavish castle became my dungeon. My once-handsome form became that of a beast. There is no hope of release from the prison of my own body, for the only way to break this curse is to earn the love of another. I, who have never felt a drop of compassion, must hope to inspire devotion. I, who am hideous beyond compare, must hope to inspire passion. After hundreds of years, I have come to accept the truth: I will never know love. There is no escape for me.
I am a prisoner.
Born to two loving parents and a happy home, I was grateful for my good fortune. Though I was plain and prone to living in my head, forced to live in the shadow of my beautiful sisters, I had everything my heart desired. Then tragedy struck, and I lost my mother and my home. Papa was all I had left in the world, and I was utterly devoted to him. When his thoughtful gesture earned him the wrath of a horrible monster, I sacrificed myself for the sake of the one person I love. Now I am a prisoner in a decaying castle with only a terrifying beast for companionship. But I am determined not to give in to the beast’s wrath, to prove to him that he can never truly ensnare me.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2012
89 people are currently reading
1725 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Darcy
19 books57 followersElizabeth Darcy is a pen name for Nicole Ciacchella. As Elizabeth Darcy, Nicole can indulge her girlhood love for fairytales by re-interpreting them.
Nicole has had a lifelong passion for the written word. As a child, one of her most treasured Christmas gifts was an electric typewriter, which enabled her to crank out her stories even more quickly than she could with a pen. Naturally, the personal computer is one of her favorite inventions. When she isn't writing, Nicole can usually be found curled up in a chair, whiling away the hours with a good book.
One of Nicole's other great passions is travel, and she has visited Europe, as well as traveling to many of the fifty states. Her favorite trips include visits to Paris, Maui, and various parts of Belgium. She feels fortunate that she is married to a native Belgian, as it gives her plenty of reasons to visit Europe as often as possible. Also, it gives her an excuse to eat Belgian waffles regularly.
Born and raised in Michigan, Nicole lives there still with her husband and two beautiful children. She thinks Michigan is the greatest state in the country, and Michigan State University is the greatest university in the world.
Nicole has had a lifelong passion for the written word. As a child, one of her most treasured Christmas gifts was an electric typewriter, which enabled her to crank out her stories even more quickly than she could with a pen. Naturally, the personal computer is one of her favorite inventions. When she isn't writing, Nicole can usually be found curled up in a chair, whiling away the hours with a good book.
One of Nicole's other great passions is travel, and she has visited Europe, as well as traveling to many of the fifty states. Her favorite trips include visits to Paris, Maui, and various parts of Belgium. She feels fortunate that she is married to a native Belgian, as it gives her plenty of reasons to visit Europe as often as possible. Also, it gives her an excuse to eat Belgian waffles regularly.
Born and raised in Michigan, Nicole lives there still with her husband and two beautiful children. She thinks Michigan is the greatest state in the country, and Michigan State University is the greatest university in the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
September 27, 2014
reread 9/2014
What a lovely, lovely book.
This is a wonderful retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. No, the story/plot is not original, how could it be? But the way it is told, and the insight into both Beauty (Mira) and the Beast (whom she calls Lysander) makes the tale infinitely more engaging.
King Edward, cold, heartless and pitiless, is cursed by an enchantress to be a beast for 300 years. The only way to break the curse is to fall in love, and to be loved in return (sound familiar?). Any servants who'd been inside the castle with him when the spell was cast are stuck with him, mute and blind, unable to express themselves, and only to serve.
Mirabelle (Mira) is the youngest daughter of a failed merchant who stumbles across the enchanted castle of the Beast on his way back from a successful sales expedition. The merchant is given hospitality (food and shelter) within the castle (though he never sees anyone), and upon his departure he spies a lovely rose garden and is inspired to bring a rose home to the one daughter who asks for nothing but his safe return.
Of course, the Beast is enraged and insists that either the merchant agree to allow himself to be imprisoned in the Beast's castle, or to send his youngest daughter to take his place.
Okay, we all pretty much know how the story goes, so no more synopsis is required.
What I loved so much about this book was the 1st person POV, from both Mira and Lysander, alternating every chapter.
Mira was intelligent, compassionate, and strong, able to admit that she was afraid of the Beast, but unwilling to let that fear overwhelm her.
Let's not forget Lysander. It was wonderful to see such a despicable character's gradual change as he fell in love. By the end, I wanted to weep myself at his self-realization of how terrible he'd been and how much he loved Mira. Sigh.
Did I say that I liked this story? If you like fairytales, you will, too. :)
What a lovely, lovely book.
This is a wonderful retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. No, the story/plot is not original, how could it be? But the way it is told, and the insight into both Beauty (Mira) and the Beast (whom she calls Lysander) makes the tale infinitely more engaging.
King Edward, cold, heartless and pitiless, is cursed by an enchantress to be a beast for 300 years. The only way to break the curse is to fall in love, and to be loved in return (sound familiar?). Any servants who'd been inside the castle with him when the spell was cast are stuck with him, mute and blind, unable to express themselves, and only to serve.
Mirabelle (Mira) is the youngest daughter of a failed merchant who stumbles across the enchanted castle of the Beast on his way back from a successful sales expedition. The merchant is given hospitality (food and shelter) within the castle (though he never sees anyone), and upon his departure he spies a lovely rose garden and is inspired to bring a rose home to the one daughter who asks for nothing but his safe return.
Of course, the Beast is enraged and insists that either the merchant agree to allow himself to be imprisoned in the Beast's castle, or to send his youngest daughter to take his place.
Okay, we all pretty much know how the story goes, so no more synopsis is required.
What I loved so much about this book was the 1st person POV, from both Mira and Lysander, alternating every chapter.
Mira was intelligent, compassionate, and strong, able to admit that she was afraid of the Beast, but unwilling to let that fear overwhelm her.
Let's not forget Lysander. It was wonderful to see such a despicable character's gradual change as he fell in love. By the end, I wanted to weep myself at his self-realization of how terrible he'd been and how much he loved Mira. Sigh.
Did I say that I liked this story? If you like fairytales, you will, too. :)
Read
February 10, 2014The Eye of the Beholder has done so well that it inspired me to continue on with the fairytale theme. My second book in the Fairytale Collection, Asleep, is available on Amazon, and I have plans for a Cinderella reboot, which will come out in the second half of 2014.
Have I told you, my readers, that I love you lately? Well, I do! Thanks to you, I'm thisclose to making it into the Goodreads recommendation engine. Though the number is shrouded in mystery, apparently I need "a couple hundred" ratings before the engine picks up the book and starts recommending it to other readers. So, I'm asking all of you to help me make that happen! If you read the book, please leave a star rating and, better yet, an honest review. I can't tell you how much it means to my little indie operation when readers take the time to do those things. Believe me, I appreciate every last review!
Have I told you, my readers, that I love you lately? Well, I do! Thanks to you, I'm thisclose to making it into the Goodreads recommendation engine. Though the number is shrouded in mystery, apparently I need "a couple hundred" ratings before the engine picks up the book and starts recommending it to other readers. So, I'm asking all of you to help me make that happen! If you read the book, please leave a star rating and, better yet, an honest review. I can't tell you how much it means to my little indie operation when readers take the time to do those things. Believe me, I appreciate every last review!
October 18, 2017
DNF at 43% because if you're on the hunt for an intelligent, fantasy-rich Beauty and the Beast retelling with maturity and depth, go for
Heart's Blood.
Heck, if you want a period piece version with steam, pick up
Beauty of the Beast
... or even
Hunted
for a version of the tale that's more darkly dreamlike. But this version? Meh. Opt for the Juliet Marrilier version and you'll probably find it a richer and more alluring experience than this one.
THE GOOD
This is the first version I've read where we begin like we do: devoting slightly more attention the the prince before he became a beast. The castle attendees were also unique...and a bit creepy. Props for the originality there.
THE BAD
Like other reviewers say, the back and forth monologues between the Beast and Mirabella quickly become tediously overdone. Too much internalization of their thoughts and and not enough plot progression.
Oh, and without the animated Disney version...all other retellings with the Beast depicted as a literal beast starts to creep me out...because what's up, bestiality.
THE VERDICT
Seriously, just read Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier. It's not perfect but it's the closest and best comparison with the mature and realistic tones that this book is going for...and no one writes character-driven old-school-feel fantasy like Juliet Marillier.
THE GOOD
This is the first version I've read where we begin like we do: devoting slightly more attention the the prince before he became a beast. The castle attendees were also unique...and a bit creepy. Props for the originality there.
THE BAD
Like other reviewers say, the back and forth monologues between the Beast and Mirabella quickly become tediously overdone. Too much internalization of their thoughts and and not enough plot progression.
Oh, and without the animated Disney version...all other retellings with the Beast depicted as a literal beast starts to creep me out...because what's up, bestiality.
THE VERDICT
Seriously, just read Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier. It's not perfect but it's the closest and best comparison with the mature and realistic tones that this book is going for...and no one writes character-driven old-school-feel fantasy like Juliet Marillier.
June 15, 2012
This was a beautifully written, lyrical book. It's a story of true redemption and the power of love to transform. Lysander, the beast, is almost unredeemable. He's narcissistic in the extreme, cynical, incapable of love or compassion, and totally at the whim of his black rages. He's been a terrible king, and has squandered every chance to do any good for his country or his subjects. And even after he's turned into a beast, and confined to his castle for several hundred years, he still refuses to change. The heroine, Mirabelle, of course has numerous wonderful qualities, including a kind and loving heart. But she's no door mat. She's fiercely intelligent, and argues with and stands up to Lysander. She calls him on all his negative qualities. She has to have numerous good qualities to serve as the catalyst for Lysander's redemption, but they are believably drawn. She's totally engaging.
The author used alternating first person viewpoints between Lysander and Mirabelle to tell the story. This device was the perfect vehicle to convey the development of Lysander's very credible change and growing love for Mirabelle. This really is a beautiful book, and I highly recommend it.
The author used alternating first person viewpoints between Lysander and Mirabelle to tell the story. This device was the perfect vehicle to convey the development of Lysander's very credible change and growing love for Mirabelle. This really is a beautiful book, and I highly recommend it.
May 9, 2023
Also published in "Tales of a Depresso Witch"
Oh my... this has to be my favourite re-telling of Beauty and the Beast.
This is, perhaps, one of the most solid versions of my favourite fairy tale I’ve ever read. It has all the basics we all know of the tale so it’s not that an original story. However, what makes this story so wonderful is the way Elizabeth Darcy (pen name for Nicole Ciacchella) tells it by blending two distinct perspectives into one narrative.
The Eye of the Beholder is told by both the main characters – Lysander/Edward and Mira. Each chapter is told by one of them, bringing us close to their deep emotions and thoughts and allowing us to know them better. It might sound too complicated but the writing, the beautiful writing, made it all so much easier and profound I felt such a huge connection to both, it’s hard to tell which one I like best – perhaps Lysander since I’m a Beast girl 🙂
The curse was cast due to Lysander’s ruthless and heartless self. He was brought up without a mother’s love and his father kept pushing him aside, not lingering around to see his son grow up and teach him what is love. Due to that, he becomes a cold king who rules by fear rather than by justice. One day a beggar is caught stealing bread for her starving children and is sentenced to death by Lysander/Edward. But what he doesn’t know is that the beggar is a beautiful enchantress and she punishes him by transforming him into a beast. All his servants must suffer with their master, being turned into a ghostly-like figures with blank eyes and pale expressions.
Lysander has three hundred years to fall in love and receive love in return. If that doesn’t happen, he’ll perish as will all his servants. The population of his once great kingdom, Organdy, will forget him until the spell is broken. Until then, he has a magical pool where he sees time and the world’s evolution.
Yes, it sounds too familiar and I think I might have written this with Beauty and the Beast by Disney prologue in my head.
Almost three hundred years have passed and Mirabelle (Mira) and her family lost everything and moved to Everforest. They live in a cottage near the forest, their lives simple and hard. Mira is the youngest of three daughters who lost their mother when they were young. Her two sisters are cruel, wishing only to be married to some wealthy man in order to get all they want, ignoring the hard work of their father and sister.
In fact, I hated Mira’s sisters so much that I kind of wished they were turned into statues in the end. But, going a bit further now, I liked the fact that they had to see their sister marry a king and become queen and live with their jealousy.
Mira’s father goes to Swan Hollow to do some business and on the journey back, he comes across this huge and abandoned-like castle. When he leaves the place, he steals a single rose from the beautiful rosebush for Mira – who, when asked what she wanted, only said she wanted his safe return – and gets caught by Lysander. Mira’s father has only two options left: he returns himself in a fortnight or one of his daughters comes in his place. When he returns home and tells his fantastical tale, Mira feels so guilty she goes in his place without his knowledge.
Yah, so I think I’m telling a tale we all know but this is when things begin to get too exciting and extremely interesting.
Lysander and Mira find in each other a friendship they never had. At first, he uses her as a pawn in his plot to break the curse, believing he can make her fall in love with him. What he wasn’t expecting was to fall in love with her and change his heart because of her. He begins seeing the world with different eyes, seeing that the world doesn’t move around him and he’s not its centre. On the contrary; for him, the centre of the world is Mira and Mira alone. He finally opens his eyes and heart and allows himself to feel the pain of love. He lets Mira go and accepts death with open arms.
His development was very well written as was his change of heart and mind. Nicole Ciacchella deepened his character and explored his feelings permitting us to see both his side: the beast underneath and the man trying to come forward.
As for Mira, her character was so smart, so strong and so human that each and every single feeling she showed was palpable. She has spent all her life being “bullied” by her sisters, being pushed to the side and ignored. In the castle she found a friend and, though she had Lysander as company, she found also a propose. Her restoration of the castle sounded, to me, a way for her to be part of it, to belong to the castle as a whole. And when she saw it was bringing something she couldn’t quite put a finger on, she had her first moment of true weakness and cowardice; she fled.
They were both very well-written and developed. There was not a moment in which I wanted to shake them and yield at them. Their reactions and decisions were very human.
By the end of the book I was like this:
Sorry, I needed to use these two fellows here :)
This book is definitely a must-read for all fairytale lovers. It’s Beauty and the Beast in its highest form; compassionate, breathtaking, lovingly and extremely caring. It’s intelligent, witty and beautifully written.
Since I loved it dearly, I asked Nicole when the book would be coming out in paperback – since she contacted me personally and sent me a digital copy of the book – and I was rewarded with 2013 as an answer. Now, whether it’s late 2013 or the beginning, I don’t know but I’m glad it’s next year.
Now, I want to thank Elizabeth Darcy/Nicole Ciacchella for sending me a copy of the book and giving me the opportunity to read it first-hand – meaning, reading it before it came out on paperback ’cause it’s available for Kindle. I truly loved it so a billion thank you.
[image error]
A random thing...
Why is it that whenever I read a story based on Beauty and the Beast I always picture Belle (in this case Mira) as Emma Watson?!
Wait, right, I know; it’s because of this picture:
Even though in this story my imagination of Mira is slightly older, I’ve pictured my sweet and dear Emma the whole time.
So, Emma, if you don’t make a movie based on this fairytale, I’m going to be really upset, okay?!
Oh my... this has to be my favourite re-telling of Beauty and the Beast.
This is, perhaps, one of the most solid versions of my favourite fairy tale I’ve ever read. It has all the basics we all know of the tale so it’s not that an original story. However, what makes this story so wonderful is the way Elizabeth Darcy (pen name for Nicole Ciacchella) tells it by blending two distinct perspectives into one narrative.
The Eye of the Beholder is told by both the main characters – Lysander/Edward and Mira. Each chapter is told by one of them, bringing us close to their deep emotions and thoughts and allowing us to know them better. It might sound too complicated but the writing, the beautiful writing, made it all so much easier and profound I felt such a huge connection to both, it’s hard to tell which one I like best – perhaps Lysander since I’m a Beast girl 🙂
The curse was cast due to Lysander’s ruthless and heartless self. He was brought up without a mother’s love and his father kept pushing him aside, not lingering around to see his son grow up and teach him what is love. Due to that, he becomes a cold king who rules by fear rather than by justice. One day a beggar is caught stealing bread for her starving children and is sentenced to death by Lysander/Edward. But what he doesn’t know is that the beggar is a beautiful enchantress and she punishes him by transforming him into a beast. All his servants must suffer with their master, being turned into a ghostly-like figures with blank eyes and pale expressions.
Lysander has three hundred years to fall in love and receive love in return. If that doesn’t happen, he’ll perish as will all his servants. The population of his once great kingdom, Organdy, will forget him until the spell is broken. Until then, he has a magical pool where he sees time and the world’s evolution.
Yes, it sounds too familiar and I think I might have written this with Beauty and the Beast by Disney prologue in my head.
Almost three hundred years have passed and Mirabelle (Mira) and her family lost everything and moved to Everforest. They live in a cottage near the forest, their lives simple and hard. Mira is the youngest of three daughters who lost their mother when they were young. Her two sisters are cruel, wishing only to be married to some wealthy man in order to get all they want, ignoring the hard work of their father and sister.
In fact, I hated Mira’s sisters so much that I kind of wished they were turned into statues in the end. But, going a bit further now, I liked the fact that they had to see their sister marry a king and become queen and live with their jealousy.
Mira’s father goes to Swan Hollow to do some business and on the journey back, he comes across this huge and abandoned-like castle. When he leaves the place, he steals a single rose from the beautiful rosebush for Mira – who, when asked what she wanted, only said she wanted his safe return – and gets caught by Lysander. Mira’s father has only two options left: he returns himself in a fortnight or one of his daughters comes in his place. When he returns home and tells his fantastical tale, Mira feels so guilty she goes in his place without his knowledge.
Yah, so I think I’m telling a tale we all know but this is when things begin to get too exciting and extremely interesting.
Lysander and Mira find in each other a friendship they never had. At first, he uses her as a pawn in his plot to break the curse, believing he can make her fall in love with him. What he wasn’t expecting was to fall in love with her and change his heart because of her. He begins seeing the world with different eyes, seeing that the world doesn’t move around him and he’s not its centre. On the contrary; for him, the centre of the world is Mira and Mira alone. He finally opens his eyes and heart and allows himself to feel the pain of love. He lets Mira go and accepts death with open arms.
His development was very well written as was his change of heart and mind. Nicole Ciacchella deepened his character and explored his feelings permitting us to see both his side: the beast underneath and the man trying to come forward.
As for Mira, her character was so smart, so strong and so human that each and every single feeling she showed was palpable. She has spent all her life being “bullied” by her sisters, being pushed to the side and ignored. In the castle she found a friend and, though she had Lysander as company, she found also a propose. Her restoration of the castle sounded, to me, a way for her to be part of it, to belong to the castle as a whole. And when she saw it was bringing something she couldn’t quite put a finger on, she had her first moment of true weakness and cowardice; she fled.
They were both very well-written and developed. There was not a moment in which I wanted to shake them and yield at them. Their reactions and decisions were very human.
By the end of the book I was like this:
Sorry, I needed to use these two fellows here :)
This book is definitely a must-read for all fairytale lovers. It’s Beauty and the Beast in its highest form; compassionate, breathtaking, lovingly and extremely caring. It’s intelligent, witty and beautifully written.
Since I loved it dearly, I asked Nicole when the book would be coming out in paperback – since she contacted me personally and sent me a digital copy of the book – and I was rewarded with 2013 as an answer. Now, whether it’s late 2013 or the beginning, I don’t know but I’m glad it’s next year.
Now, I want to thank Elizabeth Darcy/Nicole Ciacchella for sending me a copy of the book and giving me the opportunity to read it first-hand – meaning, reading it before it came out on paperback ’cause it’s available for Kindle. I truly loved it so a billion thank you.
[image error]
A random thing...
Why is it that whenever I read a story based on Beauty and the Beast I always picture Belle (in this case Mira) as Emma Watson?!
Wait, right, I know; it’s because of this picture:
Even though in this story my imagination of Mira is slightly older, I’ve pictured my sweet and dear Emma the whole time.
So, Emma, if you don’t make a movie based on this fairytale, I’m going to be really upset, okay?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2016
This book did not grab me and I was in the mood for another great Beauty and the Beast story.
Too much detail about everything. I know it is to set up the mood for the story, but sometimes less is more. The characters do not even exchange their first words until 20%. Now I have read other Beauty and Beast series that take their time introducing the Beast, but other things happen that allow me to connect. In this story, it felt painful to read so much "stuff" without really getting anywhere. It was painful for me to read even after Mira and the Beast met. It had such a great set-up, but the execution was poor in my opinion.
This may work for you, but it did not work for me.
Too much detail about everything. I know it is to set up the mood for the story, but sometimes less is more. The characters do not even exchange their first words until 20%. Now I have read other Beauty and Beast series that take their time introducing the Beast, but other things happen that allow me to connect. In this story, it felt painful to read so much "stuff" without really getting anywhere. It was painful for me to read even after Mira and the Beast met. It had such a great set-up, but the execution was poor in my opinion.
This may work for you, but it did not work for me.
April 11, 2013
This is a beautiful retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with a complete fairy-tale feel.
August 3, 2015
This book I would have to say is among the top of my favorite of Beauty and the Beast retelling, and I have read quite a number of them. It was beautiful and different in a written sense that most versions don't have.
There was one part (maybe around 80%) that I found my attention drifting if only for the fact that I wanted interactions between the characters and it was a few chapters of heavy internal processing for the characters. I could definitely feel that when I was reading this it felt longer. There wasn't much going on between the characters until about 40% of the way through, I mean there was good plot and there were events but for a retelling of this story I guess I expected more on the whole romance factor.
Also it bothered me how it was thought that what Edward did towards Mira's father was cruel and barbaric. Sure, Edward over reacted about the rose but I mean Edward feed and sheltered her dad when he was hungry and lost. All Edward did was yell and threaten. There were worse things that could have happened, say I don't know maybe being thrown into prison right there, being attacked or killed. I was fine with Mira being angry about it at the beginning because it's her dad and he was shaken up over it but even after they get along it's thought of and she even throws it at him. Okay, Edward did a lot of cruel things but that wasn't terrible and it shouldn't be one of the things she or he thinks of first to remember his cruelty. With his past he could have done worse. I guess it bothered me because it was mentioned several times and seemed to be the focus of Edwards self loathing sometimes (mixed with keeping Mira prisoner - which I understand).
Even so, besides the romance and the constant reminding of how Edward and Mira's father met I enjoyed this book. It's a version of the story that focuses on true redemption and the power of love to transform more strongly than other versions I've come across (versions of acceptance, belief in oneself, or more towards romace ect). I loved the multiple perspectives and was glad that as a reader I wasn't only stuck within the heroines head. I think this made it easier to love Edward and I really felt his pain. Even before he started to change and Mira came to the castle you can start to connect even if he told himself over and over that Mira was a pawn. I feel like if Mira could see his conflict like we did (besides the whole starting to love her bit) it wouldn't have taken her so long to realize her feelings. I was glad that they called each other's faults to and that Edward wasn't afraid to call Mira a hypocrite, which she was sometimes.
There was one part (maybe around 80%) that I found my attention drifting if only for the fact that I wanted interactions between the characters and it was a few chapters of heavy internal processing for the characters. I could definitely feel that when I was reading this it felt longer. There wasn't much going on between the characters until about 40% of the way through, I mean there was good plot and there were events but for a retelling of this story I guess I expected more on the whole romance factor.
Also it bothered me how it was thought that what Edward did towards Mira's father was cruel and barbaric. Sure, Edward over reacted about the rose but I mean Edward feed and sheltered her dad when he was hungry and lost. All Edward did was yell and threaten. There were worse things that could have happened, say I don't know maybe being thrown into prison right there, being attacked or killed. I was fine with Mira being angry about it at the beginning because it's her dad and he was shaken up over it but even after they get along it's thought of and she even throws it at him. Okay, Edward did a lot of cruel things but that wasn't terrible and it shouldn't be one of the things she or he thinks of first to remember his cruelty. With his past he could have done worse. I guess it bothered me because it was mentioned several times and seemed to be the focus of Edwards self loathing sometimes (mixed with keeping Mira prisoner - which I understand).
Even so, besides the romance and the constant reminding of how Edward and Mira's father met I enjoyed this book. It's a version of the story that focuses on true redemption and the power of love to transform more strongly than other versions I've come across (versions of acceptance, belief in oneself, or more towards romace ect). I loved the multiple perspectives and was glad that as a reader I wasn't only stuck within the heroines head. I think this made it easier to love Edward and I really felt his pain. Even before he started to change and Mira came to the castle you can start to connect even if he told himself over and over that Mira was a pawn. I feel like if Mira could see his conflict like we did (besides the whole starting to love her bit) it wouldn't have taken her so long to realize her feelings. I was glad that they called each other's faults to and that Edward wasn't afraid to call Mira a hypocrite, which she was sometimes.
December 6, 2012
3.5 stars
Nice retelling of the Beauty & the Beast. It is quite a classical approach and I liked it for that.
I couldn't help, though, but finding something amiss.
The redemption of the 'Beast' was too sudden, especially since I was actually growing fond of the idea of him being really evil. It was surprising finding the 'Beast' in one of these retellings still completely unredeemed...usually the 'Beauty' finds him already on the way to salvation; he already has understood his own mistakes and how he should have behaved better and in some of them he's actually never been evil at all, but was cursed even if blameless...not here! Edward was egocentric, arrogant, petty, merciless, narrowminded and downright bad and I really liked it! But he changed too fast and without much depth. It is like he woke up and suddenly realized he loved Mirabelle and that somehow changed everything..but how did he actually fall in love?
I'm a fan of slow building relationships and this book promised me one...but it seemed as if I lost it somewhere; the B. & the B. talk, that's true, but they fight and antagonize each other until the sudden revelation of Beast having fallen in love; there was no 'building'... it was like they barely started preparing the fundations and then in an eyeblink everything was already built and they were in love.
Another minor thing which didn't completely agree with me, were the two 'evil' sisters. They were annoying...so much so that they weren't very believable. They probably were there to highlight Mirabelle's good character and heart, but while in canon with the classic fairytale templates it was too flat a characterization for a novel and had for me the opposite effect of perceiving the heroine as too much of a "goody-two-shoes".
Even so. it was a good read. I liked it and while it still isn't this perfect Beauty and the Beast retelling I'm vainly trying to find, it was an enjoyable and well written one. Good work!
Nice retelling of the Beauty & the Beast. It is quite a classical approach and I liked it for that.
I couldn't help, though, but finding something amiss.
The redemption of the 'Beast' was too sudden, especially since I was actually growing fond of the idea of him being really evil. It was surprising finding the 'Beast' in one of these retellings still completely unredeemed...usually the 'Beauty' finds him already on the way to salvation; he already has understood his own mistakes and how he should have behaved better and in some of them he's actually never been evil at all, but was cursed even if blameless...not here! Edward was egocentric, arrogant, petty, merciless, narrowminded and downright bad and I really liked it! But he changed too fast and without much depth. It is like he woke up and suddenly realized he loved Mirabelle and that somehow changed everything..but how did he actually fall in love?
I'm a fan of slow building relationships and this book promised me one...but it seemed as if I lost it somewhere; the B. & the B. talk, that's true, but they fight and antagonize each other until the sudden revelation of Beast having fallen in love; there was no 'building'... it was like they barely started preparing the fundations and then in an eyeblink everything was already built and they were in love.
Another minor thing which didn't completely agree with me, were the two 'evil' sisters. They were annoying...so much so that they weren't very believable. They probably were there to highlight Mirabelle's good character and heart, but while in canon with the classic fairytale templates it was too flat a characterization for a novel and had for me the opposite effect of perceiving the heroine as too much of a "goody-two-shoes".
Even so. it was a good read. I liked it and while it still isn't this perfect Beauty and the Beast retelling I'm vainly trying to find, it was an enjoyable and well written one. Good work!
July 1, 2017
2.25 stars
This was okay-ish...
The ending was sweet, yes but otherwise the story was not that amazing for me. Starting consisted of a conversation that was funny, leading me to believe that this book had great promise. However eventually side characters lost their charm and became useless. Story merely revolved around Mira and Lysander and it eventually got too much. Furthermore, there were lot of repetitive thoughts/dialogues that I found myself skimming through.
P.S: I felt Beast was greatly obsessed with how beautiful she is.... It got annoying, really.
This was okay-ish...
The ending was sweet, yes but otherwise the story was not that amazing for me. Starting consisted of a conversation that was funny, leading me to believe that this book had great promise. However eventually side characters lost their charm and became useless. Story merely revolved around Mira and Lysander and it eventually got too much. Furthermore, there were lot of repetitive thoughts/dialogues that I found myself skimming through.
P.S: I felt Beast was greatly obsessed with how beautiful she is.... It got annoying, really.
August 18, 2017
This re-telling started pretty well, very engaging but from a certain point on, it started to become a bit boring and it dragged. The main characters are the narrators, using 1st person POV in alternate chapters but often it felt like they were having monologues so the plot felt a bit underdeveloped to me.
The end was sweet but not complex enough, considering the way it started (again, to me).
The end was sweet but not complex enough, considering the way it started (again, to me).
March 25, 2015
Compré este libro en una oferta de Amazon, así que mis expectativas no eran demasiado altas, pero al mismo tiempo amo la historia de la Bella y la Bestia, así que tenía cierta emoción.
Por suerte, la novela cumple. Está bien escrita y los personajes, dentro de todo están bien, Mira se vuelve un poco pesada juzgando todo el tiempo las acciones de Lysander hasta el más mínimo detalle, pero eso es más que nada al comienzo por suerte. Y Lysander es una bestia cruel bastante amable, todo el tiempo recalcan lo malo que es, pero sus acciones no lo reflejan xD
Los dos protagonistas se intercalan en los capítulos, por lo que sabemos lo que los dos piensan a todo momento y a veces eso se torna repetitivo, cuando ya leímos una escena en manos de Mira y al capítulo siguiente la volvemos a revivir desde el punto de vista de Lysander.
Quizás hubiera estado bueno que se jugara un poco más la autora y no siguiera la famosa historia tan al pie de la letra, para mi le faltó acción y sorpresas. De todas formas voy a admitir que al final se me escaparon un par de lágrimas a pesar de saber de memoria como iba a terminar.
Voy a buscar el retelling que esta autora también hizo de la Bella Durmiente n__n
Por suerte, la novela cumple. Está bien escrita y los personajes, dentro de todo están bien, Mira se vuelve un poco pesada juzgando todo el tiempo las acciones de Lysander hasta el más mínimo detalle, pero eso es más que nada al comienzo por suerte. Y Lysander es una bestia cruel bastante amable, todo el tiempo recalcan lo malo que es, pero sus acciones no lo reflejan xD
Los dos protagonistas se intercalan en los capítulos, por lo que sabemos lo que los dos piensan a todo momento y a veces eso se torna repetitivo, cuando ya leímos una escena en manos de Mira y al capítulo siguiente la volvemos a revivir desde el punto de vista de Lysander.
Quizás hubiera estado bueno que se jugara un poco más la autora y no siguiera la famosa historia tan al pie de la letra, para mi le faltó acción y sorpresas. De todas formas voy a admitir que al final se me escaparon un par de lágrimas a pesar de saber de memoria como iba a terminar.
Voy a buscar el retelling que esta autora también hizo de la Bella Durmiente n__n
August 12, 2016
5.0 stars
I really liked this "Beauty and The Beast" retelling and it was definitely not an adaption. The story basically follows the traditional fairytale without modifications (there were only a few interesting new ideas), but it wasn't the story that made this retelling so good. It was the focus on Mira and Lysander (Mira's name for the beast) emotions that made this story so interesting. Their POV's alternate from chapter to chapter and each chapter is mainly about their feelings and thoughts and those became interesting after Mira and Lysander meet for the first time. Therefore the beginning of the story was VERY slow until Mira came to Lysander's castle. Even after that little action happens. The chapters are dominated by the thoughts and dialogues of the characters and this is something that not every reader might like. Nevertheless I loved it, the emotions felt so real, especially Lysander's chapters were so great! Mira's POV was less interesting as was her character. She was likeable but the typical "Beauty and The Beast" heroine, nice, intelligent and naive.
Overall I really liked this "Beauty and the Beast" retelling, it's not for everyone but good in its own way.
I really liked this "Beauty and The Beast" retelling and it was definitely not an adaption. The story basically follows the traditional fairytale without modifications (there were only a few interesting new ideas), but it wasn't the story that made this retelling so good. It was the focus on Mira and Lysander (Mira's name for the beast) emotions that made this story so interesting. Their POV's alternate from chapter to chapter and each chapter is mainly about their feelings and thoughts and those became interesting after Mira and Lysander meet for the first time. Therefore the beginning of the story was VERY slow until Mira came to Lysander's castle. Even after that little action happens. The chapters are dominated by the thoughts and dialogues of the characters and this is something that not every reader might like. Nevertheless I loved it, the emotions felt so real, especially Lysander's chapters were so great! Mira's POV was less interesting as was her character. She was likeable but the typical "Beauty and The Beast" heroine, nice, intelligent and naive.
Overall I really liked this "Beauty and the Beast" retelling, it's not for everyone but good in its own way.
January 30, 2014
"It was true that he was hideous, but he was also growing familiar to me and even the ugliest of objects can grow pleasant to the eyes of one to whom they are familiar."
The romance started out as a matter of convenience and developed into a longing for companionship. Ultimately, this retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" goes deeper into thought patterns. It develops the metaphor of inner beauty as the path to true love.
Beauty (Mira) knows no other love than that of her father, is at first devastated to be prisoned inside the castle with a hideous beast; she misses her former life in the cottage with her father and sisters. The Beast has only the intention to use Mira to reverse the enchantment that was cast upon him. However, as the two converse and become more familiar, an undying need to be with each other develops.
The story is written in first person, switching between Beauty and the Beast. It is fluent and almost poetic.
The romance started out as a matter of convenience and developed into a longing for companionship. Ultimately, this retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" goes deeper into thought patterns. It develops the metaphor of inner beauty as the path to true love.
Beauty (Mira) knows no other love than that of her father, is at first devastated to be prisoned inside the castle with a hideous beast; she misses her former life in the cottage with her father and sisters. The Beast has only the intention to use Mira to reverse the enchantment that was cast upon him. However, as the two converse and become more familiar, an undying need to be with each other develops.
The story is written in first person, switching between Beauty and the Beast. It is fluent and almost poetic.
January 31, 2014
This book leaves me with very mixed feelings. I am a huge fan of the Beauty and the beast scenario and over all this book in my opinion was good. The problem I have is mostly the ending which left me a little bitter due to fact I felt like something could have been different and made the book a five star for me. As for the Beauty and Beast, I found their relationship together to be great and maybe one of the best I have read so far which is why the ending disappointed me. The back story was great on the beast and I love how it goes back and forth between the Beauty telling the story to the beast. I go go on about all the things that I love about this book but I want you to make your owen opinion.
February 28, 2013
I love "Beauty and the Beast", and have enjoyed some of the newer retellings. My all-time favorite, read over and over again, is Robin McKinley's "Beauty", which I feel can't be topped. That said, I really enjoyed this book; written from alternating points of view, that of Mira and that of the Beast, it allows the reader to get inside each of them and watch the growth and change occur. It was very interesting to see the Beast become aware of the "why" of his beastliness. At the beginning he is a thoroughly unlikeable character, but through the course of the novel, he changes. Isn't that what "B&tB" is all about? A fun read, and one I will probably reread at some time in the future.
October 7, 2013
Loved this story! I particularly enjoyed the weaving back and forth between the two different POV. Seeing the emotions and the changes between the Beast and the Mira made the story that much more interesting for me. So often we see it only from the beauty's POV. The gradual transformation and change from an almost feral beast into a 'man' of the Beast's emotions was insightful and well-told. Beauty's struggles with her family life, her general life situation combined with her desire to work, show kindness, and do good made for a lovely tale as she faced her fears with courage and faith in the goodness of life and mankind in general.
August 24, 2012
This was quite a lovely, lovely and enjoyable read. Who doesn't enjoy a retelling of Beauty and the Beast? it was refreshing to have the tale told from both of their points of views. I specially enjoyed the beast'a POV and how the curse came about and just how much of a tyrant he was before his bewitched transformation. Three only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because some of the detailing I was looking forward to wasn't there... but the ones I did get throughout left me with vivid imagery of their world. Above all, I wish the was more to the story!
January 30, 2014
Wonderful. The author's style of writing and the alternation between the two main characters have the book much more depth than the standard fairy tale retelling. The plot followed the Disney version to a degree, but I found the deviations to be pleasant surprises. I loved the insight into the beast's perspective. Mira, the "Belle" of the book, was at times annoyingly righteous but I suppose that' comes with the story. I was sad to finish it, which is always my way of deciding whether a book was great or not, and I will definitely be reading more by Elizabeth Darcy.
August 21, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, it definitely caught my attention immediately. I was so engrossed in the book, I didn't even take a break. I just wanted to inhale it, I just couldn't bring myself to stop. I really liked how the characters grew, and I like that the love interest wasn't immediate. They started of bad, but you could see that they were changing slowly. It took time for them to actually become friends, but it was definitely worth the wait if you ask me. It was a bit cheesy at times, but not too much.
January 2, 2016
What a way to kick off my reading for the year! I really enjoyed this retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast. This rendition sucked me in and held me captive all day. I enjoyed what the author did with her characters, bringing her "Beast" to redemption by falling in love with her "Belle", Mira. Her writing is historically intelligent and I truly felt like I was living, temporarily, in another time.
November 20, 2012
Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairytales and this is my VERY favorite rendition of it. Elizabeth did an amazing job of sucking you into the story and feeling for Mira and Lysander. She didn't skim over the relationship to them falling in love fast or easy. Lysander was a hard man and that didn't change right away. I loved it and recommend this to any Beauty and the Beast fan.
January 2, 2015
I enjoyed this retelling of beauty and the beast. The characters were well-developed and you truly saw the beast Edward was inside and how the enchantress only made his physical appearance represent his inward appearance. You also saw his true remorse for the way he was and the way he treated people. Good, good book. Recommended for anyone.
May 26, 2013
A wonderful retelling of the classic Beauty & the Beast fairytale. The author has created characters that I quickly connected with. The Beast whom Mira (the "Beauty") names Lysander starts off as being a nasty person. Their journey of falling in love is told beautifully. Cried at the end (that's always a mark of a good story!). Highly recommend to anyone who loves a classic love story.
July 13, 2013
Loved this story. It was retold beautifully. I hate to even say this because I liked the book so much, but at many points, I felt there was redundance and over-explanation. I will admit that I skipped over a lot of the long explanations of feelings or contemplations. Still a four-star, stay-up-all-night, read-from-start-to-finish-in-one-night kind of book, though. Nicely done.
December 11, 2012
This was a beautifully written retelling of one of my favorite stories. Although I loved the characters and their interactions, I just wish I felt more emotions. In my opinion there just wasn't enough angst and emotionally-charged scenes.
January 6, 2014
The best retelling I have read so far! Told from alternating perspectives, the author really details the psychological aspects of the characters & their motivations for choosing as they do. Lots of relationship gold here!
February 16, 2014
Great book and version of Beauty and the Beast
I thought this was well written and had great insight into both characters. I was hesitant about how the Beast's change would unfold, but it was expertly done. Very clean read, appropriate for all ages.
I thought this was well written and had great insight into both characters. I was hesitant about how the Beast's change would unfold, but it was expertly done. Very clean read, appropriate for all ages.
July 6, 2017
Absolutely fabulous version of one of my favorite fairy tales ever! The depth of character development is amazing and I was completely drawn in. I especially loved having each main character switch chapters so that depth could be explored as they learn and grow from each other.
September 8, 2013
I enjoyed this book very much. This book might not be too original but I love how she's written the characters. Was very glad I bought this :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews